[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by SeanHanson

FOOD: We typically feed him Friskies and 9 Lives wet food, as well as Iam’s dry food

Any possibility that you could try feeding him a better quality food, preferably with a novel protein source and no grains (and preferably wet only, no kibble)? More info on that: http://www.peteducation.com/article....1+2117&aid=142

Food allergies account for 57% of the causes of itching and scratching in cats

Common food culprits

Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause food allergies than others. In cats, the most common offenders are beef, lamb, seafood, corn, soy, dairy products and wheat gluten. As you may have noticed, the most common offenders are the most common ingredients in both cat and dog foods. This correlation is not a coincidence. While some proteins might be slightly more antigenic than others, many proteins are similar in form and the incidence of allergic reactions are probably associated with the amount of exposure.

Originally Posted by SeanHanson

FLEAS/TICKS/BATHING: in an effort to rule these out as a cause, we put a (rather expensive) flea collar on him a few weeks ago.

Hopefully you've removed the flea collar by now. These are actually quite toxic and not an effective method of flea control: http://pets.webmd.com/features/natur...ments-for-pets

A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), "Poison on Pets II: Toxic Chemicals in Flea and Tick Collars," found that many over-the-counter insect control products for pets, even when used as instructed, can cause "serious health consequences to pets and humans." Many of these products include organophosphate (OP) compounds, which have been used for insect control for decades and are known to have toxic effects. Most immediate health problems come from not using these products properly, but there is some evidence that more insidious health problems may arise from chronic exposure. Many pet store flea and tick products contain more than one active ingredient and some of these products cause problems when used together.

In its review, the NRDC found that dangerously high levels of pesticide residue can remain on a dog or cat's fur for weeks after a flea collar is put on the animal. The NRDC also found that residues from two pesticides used in flea collars – tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur – were high enough to pose a risk to children and adults who play with their pets.

Originally Posted by SeanHanson

BEDDING: I wash the blankets on his bed regularly

What do you wash them with? It's possible that he also has a contact allergy to the detergent.